by talking about i am not the senator from israel. the problem with that kind of language is that it suggests that those who have a very strong strategic view about the u.s.-israeli relationship somehow are in the pocket of israelis. i think that is wrong. there are strategic reasons for the relationship. on afghanistan, i would say senator chuck hagel's held different positions. when the iraq war was going poorly and the search was suggested, senator chuck hagel said, we have taken our eye off the ball. the greatest threat the united states faces is between the mountains of pakistan and afghanistan. today, or previously, he opposed the president's surge in afghanistan. these are issues that need to be addressed. where does he think afghanistan is going to go? why did he think that afghanistan was such a vital, strategic interest and then when the president himself tries to address the issue, he does not support that position? so senator chuck hagel -- i keep putting him in o ffice -- has meant a lot of statements over the years about